Every hard drive in your computer contains an atomically thin layer of ruthenium — without it, storing terabytes of data on a tiny platter would be impossible. This platinum group metal creates magnetic layers just a few atoms thick that stabilize data at ultra-high recording densities.
Ruthenium is the only element named after Rus'. The Latin 'Ruthenia' referred to a historical region covering parts of modern Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia. It was discovered in 1844 by chemist Karl Ernst Claus in platinum ore residues.
In chemistry, ruthenium is one of the most effective catalysts known. It accelerates complex reactions at lower temperatures than other metals. The 2005 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded for olefin metathesis — using a ruthenium-based Grubbs catalyst.
In medicine, the isotope ruthenium-106 treats eye cancer — radioactive plaques are applied directly to the tumor, minimizing damage to healthy tissue.
Metallic ruthenium is safe to handle normally. But its oxide RuO₄ is a volatile toxic substance that irritates eyes and airways even at tiny concentrations. Fine ruthenium powder can ignite in air. Working with ruthenium catalysts requires fume hoods, gloves, and safety goggles.
Ruthenium is the only element named after Rus'. The Latin 'Ruthenia' referred to the historical region of modern Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia.
Hard drives contain a ruthenium layer just atoms thick. It enables storage densities of up to 1 TB per square inch.
Ruthenium complexes glow brightly (luminescence) and are used as markers in biological research and forensics.
Ruthenium is the rarest non-radioactive platinum group metal in Earth's crust: just 0.001 ppm.
The 2005 Nobel Prize in Chemistry went to olefin metathesis — using Grubbs' ruthenium-based catalyst.
| Isotope | Mass (u) | Abundance | Half-life | Decay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
96Ru | 95.907598 | 5.54% | stable | — |
98Ru | 97.905287 | 1.87% | stable | — |
99Ru | 98.905939 | 12.76% | stable | — |
100Ru | 99.904219 | 12.60% | stable | — |
101Ru | 100.905582 | 17.06% | stable | — |
102Ru | 101.904349 | 31.55% | stable | — |
104Ru | 103.905433 | 18.62% | stable | — |
Analysis of platinum ore residue